Research Analyst Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A research analyst gathers and interprets information to answer questions a company can't answer from gut feel alone: how big is a market, what do competitors charge, which features do customers actually want. The output is usually a report, a slide deck or a brief, not a dashboard someone checks daily.
Research analysts work in market research firms, consulting, financial services, policy and corporate strategy teams, so the subject matter ranges from consumer behavior to industry regulation. The common thread is sourcing credible data, synthesizing it clearly, and being honest about what the evidence does and doesn't support.
Research Analyst job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
Research Analyst
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring a research analyst to support [team] with research on [market / industry / topic]. You'll gather data from primary and secondary sources, analyze it, and turn it into reports and recommendations that inform [decisions].
What you'll do
- Design and run research: surveys, interviews, competitor scans and secondary source review.
- Gather data from [industry reports, databases, public filings, field research].
- Analyze findings and identify patterns, risks and opportunities relevant to [team].
- Write clear reports and summaries for stakeholders who don't have time to read raw data.
- Track [industry, competitors, regulation] on an ongoing basis and flag relevant changes.
- Present findings to internal teams or clients, and answer follow-up questions.
- Maintain research files, sources and methodology notes for future reference.
What you'll bring
- [X]+ years in research, analysis or a related field.
- Strong research skills: finding, evaluating and citing credible sources.
- Comfort with data analysis in Excel or a similar tool.
- Clear writing, able to summarize complex findings for a non-expert reader.
- Attention to detail and a habit of checking claims before including them.
- Organization skills to manage multiple research threads at once.
Nice to have
- Experience with survey tools such as Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey.
- Statistical analysis skills (SPSS, R or Python).
- Knowledge of [industry, e.g. healthcare, financial services or consumer goods].
- Experience presenting research to clients or senior leadership.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Access to paid research databases, flexible hours, professional development budget]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a recruiter call, a writing or research sample review, a case exercise where you research a topic and present findings, and a team interview.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Research Analyst duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Gathers data and drafts sections of reports under guidance.
- Runs surveys and compiles results into summaries.
- Learns the industry, key sources and the team's standard methods.
Mid-level
- Owns research projects from scoping to final report.
- Chooses appropriate methods and sources for a given question.
- Presents findings directly to stakeholders or clients.
Senior
- Leads research strategy for a practice area or client portfolio.
- Reviews junior analysts' work and mentors them on method and writing.
- Builds relationships with clients or leadership who rely on the research.
Research Analyst career path
- Junior Research Analyst
- Research Analyst
- Senior Research Analyst
- Research Manager or Director
Research analyst is a common entry point from degrees in economics, political science, sociology or business, and from market research internships. Later moves include strategy, consulting, product marketing and research leadership roles.
Similar roles
- Marketing Analyst job description
Focuses on marketing performance rather than broad market or industry research.
- Data Analyst job description
Works more with internal company data than external sources.
- Business Analyst job description
Applies research to internal process and requirements questions.
- Financial Analyst job description
Narrows research to financial performance and forecasting.
- Policy Analyst job description
Applies research methods to public policy questions instead of markets.
Research Analyst job description FAQ
What does a research analyst do?
Gathers and analyzes data from surveys, interviews and secondary sources to answer questions about markets, industries or competitors, and writes up the findings in reports that support business decisions.
What skills should a research analyst job description require?
Strong research and sourcing skills, clear writing, comfort with data in Excel or a similar tool, and attention to detail. Survey tools and statistical software are useful extras, best listed as nice-to-have.
What's the difference between a research analyst and a data analyst?
A research analyst usually works with external sources like surveys, industry reports and interviews to answer broad questions, while a data analyst typically works with a company's own internal data.